BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Four goals from four different players led the Gardner-Webb (9-3-2, 4-0-1) men's soccer team to a 4-0 clean sheet versus USC Upstate (3-13-0, 2-4-0) on Saturday evening a Greene-Harbison Stadium.
An absolute dominant performance on the pitch, Gardner-Webb was able to post 20 shots compared to just one for the visitors. The Runnin' Bulldogs were also able to secure eight corner kicks during the match while Upstate mustered only a pair.
"A complete performance for our seniors tonight", said head coach Scott Wells. "You only get one senior day and these guys are so deserving of three points to remember it by."
Sophomore defender
Max Fisher ignited the shooting barrage for GWU, ripping off a shot on goal in the 19
th minute before junior forward
Elias Khodri put the home team ahead just over a minute later as sophomore midfielder
Tiago Campos provided a beautiful feed into the box.
Khodri was poised to pick up his second score moments later, but his pair of shots were reeled in by Upstate's Cooper Jennings. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs lead soon enough would double as graduate forward
Lucas Gonzalez found the back of the net in the 31
st minute off an assist from senior midfielder
Caio Hughes.
Play began to get a bit chippy early in the second half, but that did not slow the momentum of the Gardner-Webb attack as Fisher called his own number in the 59
th minute, firing a missile past the Spartans keeper for a 3-nil advantage.
Hughes picked up his second helper of the match in the 80
th minute while freshman forward
Philip Nicoletti provided insurance with his second goal of the season. Junior goalie
Alan Horrocks picked up his third shutout of the season after playing all 90 minutes in goal.
Prior to the contest, 12 seniors were honored for their contributions to Gardner-Webb men's soccer.
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Tuesday, October 29, playing host to the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Greene-Harbison Stadium.